Thermally operated device operating by expansion of air or other gas when heated



1934- E. A. LOWE ET AL 1,942,823

THERMALLY OPERATED DEVLCE OPERATING BY EXPANSION OF AIR OR OTHER GAS WHEN HEATED Filed Sept. 16, 1950 gum/"tow .5 r7 [awe r A. Ham/Wan W Hume/13A Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES THEBMALLY OPERATED DEVICE OPERAT- ING BY EMANSION F GAS WHEN HEATED ant on omen Ernest A. Lowe and John K. Hamilton, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to Automatic Sprinkler Company 0! America, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 16, 1930 Serial N0. 482,268

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide one main control mechanism such for example as a main supply valve for admitting fire extinguishing fluid to distributing pipes and to control such main valve from any one of a plurality of fire zones.

More specifically the invention contemplates an apparatus whereby one main control valve or other device may be actuated from any one of a number of fire zones with the uniformity and certainity of operation present where only one zone is connected.

The above and other objects will appear more fully from the following description when considered in connection with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates more or less diagrammatically one complete embodiment of our invention, parts being in section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the specific devices employed herein for isolating the control impulses originating in the various fire zones.

In applying the present invention to a specific fire extinguishing system we have illustrate merely a typical source of fire ext fluid, such for example as the main supply pipe 4 formed with a gate valve 6 and supplying fluid to the main control valve casing 8. This valve, as shown, is formed with a closure 10 formed with a suitable sealing gasket engageable with the stationary valve seat 12 to close communication between the main supply pipe 4 and distributing pipes 14 when the valve 10 is in closed position. The pipes 14 extend throughout the protected area and are provided with the usual branch lines.

(not shown) extended into the various fire zones, the branch lines having the usual sprinkler outlets. As shown the valve 10 may be held in closed position by means of a mechanical latch 16, pivoted as at 17, and formed with a projecting lug 18 engaging a free edge of the valve closure 10. The latch 16 is formed with an operating lever 20 projected through the opening 22 in the valve casing 8 and engageable by a lug 24 carried by the lever 26, the latter being held in retracted or inoperative position by means of pivoted latch lever 28. The above devices are of a previously known type and are merely indicated to illustrate one form of main control or release mechanism which may be employed in connection with the present invention.

The valve 10 is constructed to be opened from any one of a plurality oi fire zones A, .8, etc. and

to this end supplemental tubing 30, extends to the various fire zones. The supplemental tubing is formed with the usual enlargements 32constituting heat-absorbing or pressure-producing elements operative on an increase of temperature adjacent the same to create a pneumatic impulse in the tubing 30. Each separate tube is formed with a restricted leak or compensating vent 31 for accommodating normal pressure and temperature changes adjacent the elements 32 and tubing 30.

In the present instance each separate system of control tubing and heat-absorbing elements is individual to one or more fire zones and the tubing is separated from tubing extending from any other fire zones by means of the units indicated generally at 34. These units are formed with chambers 35 of restricted size and containing a body of sealing liquid 36, mercury for example, into which the tubes 30 project to a point beneath the liquid level therein the tubes 30 in each unit 34 extending vertically above the liquid 36 sufficiently to provide a substantial liquid head, sufficient to retain in the chamber 35 any pressure to which the apparatus will normally be subjected. The various units 34 are connected by means of branch tubes 38 communicating with the chambers 35 within the units 34 above the liquid level therein and with the tube 39 leading to the pressure responsive element 40. There is also provided a restricted leak or vent 37 which may be provided on the tube 39 and which communicates with the outside air for equalizing the pressure in the units 34 and and tubing 38 and 39 with the outside air'pressure. The leak 37 is of sufliciently restricted character to accommodate only normal atmospheric changes and does not interfere with the normal operation of the apparatus.

The releasing element 40 is formed with a rigid casing 41 and a flexible diaphragm 42 whereby variations of pressure in the tubing 39 will flex the diaphragm 42, the latter being operatively connected to the release mechanism including, in

the present embodiment, the release lever 28.

By means of the above described devices it will be seen that on the occurrence of an abnormal heat condition adjacent any of the elements 32 an increase in pressure is produced in one of the tubes 30, the pressure increase passing from the open end of the latter, past the liquid seal formed by the liquid 36 and into the interior of the chamber 35, then by way of tubes 38 and 39 to the pressure responsive element 40 for producing the opening of the main valve. Substantially the entire pneumatic pressure produced in any-fire zone is thus available for producing the opening of the main valve since the increased air pressure present in any tube 30 is prevented from passing into the other tubes and the other heatabsorbing elements 32, due to the sealing effect of the liquid in the other chambers 35. An unlimited number of units 34 may be provided for different fire zones to be supplied from one main control valve and through one pressure responsive element without interfering with the uniformity of operation of the fluid supply mechanism. The restricted vents 31 and 37 prevent unintentional operation of the devices from normal temperature and pressure changes and maintain the supplemental tubing in an equalized or dormant state with respect to one another and to the atmosphere, thus tending further to assure uniformity of operation.

We have shown in connection with our invention a usual code alarm including a release member 48 for transmitting a code signal througlt the alarm 47 to any desired location such for example as a fire house. An additional alarm 47 may be employed if desired to indicate the operated condition of the alarm, the'circuit to the alarm 4'? being closed at all times member 48 is released. The member 48 is adapted to be moved to released position through energization of the coil 49. The circuit through the coil 49 includes the battery 50 or other source of current supply connected by conductors 51 to the various terminals 44, one of which is placed in each unit 34 in contact with the liquid therein. The cooperating terminals 46, one of which is adjustably mounted in each unit 34 by means of an insulated packing member as shown, are positioned to be normally just out of contact with the liquid 36. The terminals 46 are connected individually by means of conductors 53 with the separate annunciator coils 52, the latter being connected by conductor 54, through the coil 49, with the battery 50. The annunciators are of any usual type including a visual signal element 55 moved to its exposed position on energization of the corresponding coil 52.

, In the operation of the above signal devices in connection with the fire extinguishing system herein disclosed, on the occurrence of a fire condition pneumatic pressure develops in the supplemental tubing, this pressure forcing the liquid out of the lower end of the corresponding tube 30 thus raising the level of the liquid 36 to a point where it contacts with the terminal 46 of that unit. This completes the individual. circuit of the annunciator and also releases the code alarm 48.

Having now described our invention, we claim:

1. In a fire controlling apparatus, a main pressure actuated controlling mechanism normally inactive, a plurality of pressure producing elements arranged respectively in different fire zones and each adapted to generate increase or pressure on the occurrence of fire, pressure conveying tubings extending respectively from said elements to said controlling mechanism and oneway valves associated with said pressure producing elements and tubing for preventing the increase of pressure generated in any fire zone and necessary for rendering the controlling mechanism active from passing or being dissipated in the tubing of other elements.

2. In a fire controlling apparatus, a main pressure actuated controlling mechanism normally inactive, a plurality of pressure producing elements arranged in difierent fire zones and each adapted to generate a pressure sufiicient to render the controlling mechanism active, individual pressure conveying tubing extending from said elements respectively to said controlling mechanism for conveying'the increase of pressure necessary to render said controlling mechanism} active and one-way valves formed as liquid seals associated with said elements and tubing for preventing the operative increased pressure generated and conveyed through one tube from passing or being dissipated in other tubes and pressure producing devices wherein there is no substantial increase of pressure generated in a fire zone.

3. In a fire controlling apparatus, a main pressure actuated controlling mechanism normally inactive under the normal pressure to which it is exposed, a plurality of pressure producing elements arranged in difierent fire zones and each adapted to generate a pressure sufficient to render the controlling mechanism active, pressure conveying tubing extending respectively from said elements 'to said controlling mechanism which is common thereto for conveying the increase of pressure necessary to render said controlling mechanism active, one-way valves associated with said elements and tubing for preventing the increased pressure necessary for rendering said control mechanism active and generated by' heat in the fire zone from escaping into othertubing wherein an actuating increase of pressure does not exist, and restricted venting means placed between said main controlling mechanism and said valves to compensate for normal atmospheric changes adjacent said mechanism.

4. In a fire controlling apparatus, pressure actuated controlling mechanism normally inactive, a plurality of pressure producing elements arranged in different fire zones, pressure conveying tubing extending from each of said elements to said controlling mechanism, one-way valves associated with said elements and tubing interposed respectively between each tubing and the common pressure responsive device of the controlling mechanism for preventing actuating pressure from passing from one of said elements to the other normally inactive elements and restricted venting means associated with each of said sets of pressure producing elements and tubing to accommodate normal pressure changes therein.

5. In a fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus for a plurality of fire zones, fluid control mechanism, a pressure responsive device for actuating said control mechanism, a series of chambers containing sealing liquid and communicating above the level of the sealing liquid with said pressure responsive device, heat responsive pressure producing elements located in the various fire zones and each including individual pressure conveying tubing extending from the fire zones to one of said chambers and communicating with the interior thereof beneath the normal liquid level thereof, alarm mechanism and means op- 2,

erated by the passage of pressure from said tubing into said chambers for actuating said alarm.

6. In a fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus for a plurality of fire zones, fiuid control mechanism, a pressure responsive device fori actuating said control mechanism, a series of chambers containing sealing liquid and communicating above the level of the sealing liquid with said pressure responsive device, heat responsive pressure producing elements located in the various fire zones and each including individual pressure conveying tubing extending from the fire zones to one of said chambers and communicating with the interior thereof beneath the normal liquid level thereof, alarm mechanism individual to each fire zone and means controlled coincidently with the actuation of said control mechanism for individually operating said alarm mechanism.

'7. In a fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus for a plurality of fire zones, a main control mechanism, a pressure responsive device for actuating said control mechanism, a series of chambers containing sealing liquid and communicating above the level of the sealing liquid with said pressure responsive device, heat responsive pressure producing elements located in the various fire zones and each including individual pressure conveying tubing extending from the fire zones to one of said chambers and communicating with the interior thereof beneath the normal liquid level thereof, electrically actuated alarm mechanism, a conducting terminal positioned in each of said chambers above the normal liquid level thereof and in position to be contacted by said liquid on any material rise in the level thereof and electrical conductors extending from said terminals to said alarm mechamsm.

8. In a fire extinguishing and alarm apparatus for a plurality of fire zones, fluid control mechanism, a pressure responsive device for actuating said control mechanism, a series of chambers containing sealing liquid and communicating above the level of the sealing liquid with said pressure responsive device, heat responsive pressure producing elements located in the various fire zones and each including individual pressure conveying tubing extending from the fire zone to one of said chambers and communicating with the interior thereof beneath the normal liquid level thereof, electrically actuated alarm mechanism, a terminal positioned in each of said chambers above the normal liquid level thereof and in position to be contacted by said liquid on any material rise in the level thereof, electrical conductors extending from said terminals to said alarm mechanism and annunciators individual to each of said electrical conductors.

9. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, a normally inactive control mechanism including a pressure responsive device normally inactive but adapted to respond to an increase of pressure for bringing the control mechanism into action, a plurality of pressure producing units in the fire zones, means for operatively connecting all of said-units with said pressure responsive device and means interposed between the pressure producing units and the pressure responsive device common to them for preventing an increase of pressure in any of said units from being rendered inefiective by passage into inactive units;

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a control mechanism including a pressure responsive device, a plurality of pressure producing elements common to said pressure responsive device, means operatively connecting each said element with said pressure responsive device for producing an operating pressure there in and means associated with said connecting means for limiting the flow of operating pressure from each pressure producing element to movement from said element toward said pressure responsive device only.

ERNEST A. LOWE. JOHN R. HAMILTON. 

